March 2013

PAGE 4&5

TALENT SHOW PAGE 3

THE BEST BURGER

SENIORITIS

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The Sentinel On Guard AN OPEN FORUM FOR STUDENT EXPRESSION SINCE 1982

VOLUME 32, ISSUE 4

My.HSJ.ORG/SLHS

MAY 2013

SPORTS

The road to state for SLHS Dance

BY ANTHONY ROBINSON arobinsononguard@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN MENKA

The Spanaway Lake dance team not

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN MENKA

THE FINAL PERFORMANCE: At the state competition held at the Yakima Sundome, the team performed to their fullest potential taking into account all the obstacles they overcame to make it to state. “Even though we lost a member going to state, we still kept a smile throughout the whole day,” said sophomore Roselle Sabado. “We tried our best to place with all the new arrangements and everything we did in one night.”

WHEN IN DOUBT, DANCE OUT: This years’ Spanaway Lake High School dance team set out to reach their full potential and make their school proud as they represent at so it was really emotional.”

2

Op-Ed

MAY 2013

On Guard Spanaway Lake High School 1305 168th Street East Spanaway, WA 98387 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ..............................Nicole Croswhite EDITORIAL BOARD.................................. Bradley Dean ........................................................................ Kendra Green ........................................................................ Anna Kessner .......................................................................... Ashley Leise ........................................................................ Sam Martinez ................................................................... Charly Whitman REPORTERS .............................................. Mollie Callies ....................................................................... Lani Camacho .......................................................................... Hannah Coe ........................................................................ Sean Connors ............................................................................ Josh Haigh ..................................................................... Leitara Mailoto ................................................................... Brycen Meredith .............................................................. Melanie Ning-Ngim ........................................................................ Junilda Reyes ................................................................ Anthony Robinson ...................................................................... Nick Romanov ........................................................................... Ricky Smith ....................................................................... Brandi Tucker .............................................................. Vanessa Valdobinos .......................................................................... Skylar Webb ADVISER ...................................................... Todd Keister

PRINTING INFORMATION The On Guard is printed eight times a year by the Snohomish Printing Company in Snohomish, WA. MISSION STATEMENT 1. First and foremost, the On Guard stands to inform and entertain the intellect of the student body, we shall at all times cover all stories with accuracy, integrity, and fairness.

2. The On Guard stands to obey all laws set forth and abide by the On Guard Code of Ethics.

3. The On Guard stands as an open forum newsmagazine. All students who submit an article, photograph, or artwork that meets all of the issue shall be considered for publication.

4. All journalists shall respect the school and community by reporting with objectivity, honesty and accuracy.

5. The On Guard shall strive to exceed the highest standards of high school journalism.

6. To ensure accuracy, any corrections that shall be necessary will be printed promptly and neatly.

EDITORIAL POLICIES 1. Letters to the editor are accepted, and shall be printed if they meet the following criteria; submissions must be 50-250 words in length, and signed by the author with a signature and a grade level 2. The On Guard reserves the right not to publish any editorial submission for any reason. The On Guard may also edit to condense submissions that do not meet the given 50-250 word limit.

3. All opinionated publications must meet the same standards of fairness, accuracy, and integrity as all other submissions.

4. The Op-Ed page shall always give credit to all

CODE OF ETHICS 1. The On Guard shall abide by all laws.

2. The privacy of all students shall be protected.

For sensitive information to be published of a minor, a student release form with the signature of his/her parent or guardian is required.

3a. In the event of a death of a student, the On Guard shall write an obituary including the name of the person, the birth date, cause of death (if public), date, time, and place of death; date, time, and status of the memorial services; the family survivors of the deceased person.

3b. The On Guard may also choose to run a story about the deceased person, cause of death, the life of that person, and any other information if deemed by the Editorial Board to be newsworthy.

3c. No opinionated article should be written about the death of the student, unless in the form of a letter to the editor.

3d. The immediate family or guardians of the deceased may request for any and/or all information to be withheld from publication, in respect to that family.

4. Never should any article contain information or dialogue that personally attacks another student, (in charge of that page) or the adviser shall be withheld from publication.

6. If the details in a publication are relevant to the material, they may and should be published, important than making sure that the person isn’t

THE ON GUARD | EDITORIALS

OPINION

PDA: Leave it at home

BY KATELYN PARKER Guest Writer Romantic partners have tendencies hallways, at lunch, and even in class.

Arousing one another, what PDA is, in front of others is rather disturbing for those around them. Every corner, every turn, every nook and cranny is occupied with couples enveloped in the many

8. All ads are subject to the same standards of decency as all other news and editorial submissions.

9. The On Guard may reject the submissions of and/or harmful to minors. Advertising will not be

arousal are intended to be intimate, private activities done in a private place, Whether at a school, the movies, the mall, etc., take it someplace private.

“I see people ‘doing the nasty’ in the hallways and it puts everyone in a really Kayla Sear.

PDA does not just have to do with the people participating, but changes the

employment, and if so, they would be sadly mistaken. So why are they doing it here at school, and why would they think their peers should just accept it?

Break out of that relationship sphere that you’re held so tightly in and take a breath of reality. No one wants to witness excessive PDA or PDA in general. From other students’ point of view, utilize your right and privilege of privacy and turn

How to avoid drama

BY BRANDI TUCKER btuckeronguard@gmail.com 1.

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all – Saying rude and cruel comments will do nothing but stir up drama for you and for the person(s) you are saying mean things to.

2.

Mind your own business – Keeping to yourself and staying out of everyone’s business can help prevent you from getting involved in that drama if you put yourself in that situation, it could potentially put you in danger.

3.

Don’t talk mess – People feel the need to say something that is not true about another person. This is called spreading rumors.

If you hear something about another individual that you know is not true, ignore it.

By doing so, you are pulling yourself out of the drama 4.

Stay out of drama that isn’t your own- If you already know about drama that is happening with some of your peers, stay out of it. You do not want their drama becoming your own.

5.

Stay busy all of the time – If you are constantly busy, you will not have time for drama. You will have something better to worry about rather than a

controversy.

6.

Walk away from drama – If you walk away from the drama, it makes you the bigger person and proves that you are the more mature one by not prolonging the situation.

7.

Don’t give them a reason to start drama – By starting even the smallest drama. It could eventually escalate into something bigger than it needs to be.

8. Avoid escalating an argumentBy walking away from the argument.

When doing this, you are avoiding any potential physical, emotional or spiritual harm to you, the person you’re arguing with and any potential bystanders.

9.

Apologize for hurting them (physically, spiritually, emotionally, etc.)- Doing this will prove that you are the more mature one. This will also resolve any drama between the two of you.

10.

Surround yourself with drama free people – To keep out of drama, avoid dramatic people. Keep your circle of friends a small one thus staying out of any unnecessary drama.

Typical stereotypes

BY KENDRA GREEN kgreenonguard@gmail.com

stereotypes before, but is it always true?

Of course not. Many of us talk about how no one should judge a book by their cover, but how many of us can say we actually live by that?

This is a problem that has gotten worse over the years in America as a whole, but I personally think it is a problem here at Spanaway Lake that has gotten out of Every black person is not ‘ghetto.’ I believe that sometimes we forget the real

GOT OPINIONS? SEND LETTERS TO ROOM 215 OR E-MAIL US AT TKEISTER@ BETHELSD.ORG

tone of the entire environment.

Where does the acceptance of PDA stem from? Maybe the provocative clothing that has been slowly allowed into society has fed into this mindset. Maybe the evolution of intimate, romantic scenes permitted in movies. Regardless, a young adult such as the students at Spanaway Lake should have a conscience that can accurately determine the appropriateness of their actions in public. One would not,

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exposed to around school.

7. To protect the integrity of the On Guard, the behavior. The advisor and/or Editor-in-Chief also reserve the right to reject the entry of any student

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makes it lose it’s actual meaning as we try to put another meaning to it.

Ghetto, in Webster’s Dictionary is area, occupied by a minority group or unique was of doing and handling things,

does not make them ghetto.

“One of the most common stereotypes I hear around school are Asians are really smart, blonde girls are dumb, and sophomore Brandi Tucker. “I think that stereotypes are overrated, you should not judge people on what you think they have Instead of judging people on what society sets out to be true, let’s get to know each other and what we are really just as natural as breathing and everyone does it, but we can all work on the level of judgment and just be more welcoming. stereotypes is that you don’t really get to know the whole person, but just base

*100 students are interviewed every issue

POLL QUESTION FOR NEXT ISSUE What are you going to do over summer break?

Visit http://my.hsj.org/shls and click on the article “Student Sound-Off” and submit your answer.

HEAD MAESTRO NICOLE CROSWHITE

A word from Alaska As this school year begins to wrap up, out what they are going to do after high school. Some are getting ready to move away and go to college while others are preparing No matter what you are doing after high school, the end of the year is stressful for all the soon to be graduates.

For myself and many other seniors, we have to meet many deadlines before entering college in the fall. Not only do you have to sign up for everything but you While there is many pre-requisites to entering college, one of the biggest factors responsibilities. How to pay for college, what scholarships were you eligible for, for is information that most students entering college in the fall have to take into consideration.

In the beginning of senior year, we all apply for multiple schools and scholarships that vary depending on our personal aspirations. Once you begin to receive acceptance letters, you have to think about making a decision and choosing the best school for you.

As you begin to compare schools and put your top schools against one another, your favorite choice might not be the most realistic option for you. Unfortunately, be the deciding factor for some students.

When I received my acceptance letter from Washington State University, I was beyond ecstatic. I could not wait to tell my family and friends where I would be attending in the fall. With every person I told, I got the same response. “How are I was quickly brought back to reality and had to start thinking about how I was going to pay for my schooling throughout college. I thought I was done being stressed out once I got accepted to WSU, but the stress had really only begun as I started to focus on the details.

Finding money to fund my education became the only thing on my mind. loans, and grants to pay for college is extremely overwhelming because it is such a huge factor in going to school and it is something you will be responsible for Regardless of how you decide to pay

anonymous student.

All I am saying is if we as a whole took the time to get to know everyone, you would be surprised at what amazing friends you could make.

Make the best decision for your personal situation and always remember that your education is worth every penny.

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News

MAY 2013 3

80th annual Daffodil Festival takes place

BY ANNA KESSNER akessneronguard@gmail.com You know springtime is here when

the wind ensemble band, cheerleaders, and Navy JROTC. The band played “Free Ride.” They bravely withstood the rainy elements and proudly sported teal.

Our school also had a “representative”

everywhere you look.

representing an organization held dear to them. Clowns, decorated horses, pirates; attention in.

Some of those involved with the parade came from all over Washington. Included in the parade was royalty from the Lilac Festival in Spokane, Rose Parade in Portland, and Apple Blossom Festival in Wenatchee.

Spanaway Lake was represented by

Princess Anna Kessner. Kelly Wheeler followed behind riding in a white mustang as Spanaway Lake’s Educator of the Year.

“It was a really cool experience being in the parade. It was my third year and it’s something I look forward to every spring,” said junior Bradley Dean who in the Tacoma parade.

Most people only know about the festival through the parade, but there is so much more that goes into it. The queen and her court attend luncheons, read to kids at libraries, tutor kids at the Boys and Girls Club, and much more.

Even though the weather was not the best, it was still a fun, lively experience for all those involved and for those watching.

Hopefully next year the parade will have nice clear weather, but if not, I’m sure the magic was everywhere.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GOOGLE IMAGES

celebrated their eightieth anniversary with the “Magic of Music.” The Grand Floral Parade was held on April 13th, and although the day did not provide the most ideal weather, smiles covered the streets.

The parade travels through the streets of Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting. This all day event was televised (in Puyallup) this year by KING-5 and was shown on television later that night.

Hundreds and hundreds of people took

PRINCESS WAVE, EVERYBODY!: they wave to bystanders through the streets of Puyallup. “It was an experience that I am never going to forget. Even though it was a crazy day, nothing rained on my parade,” said senior Anna Kessner, Spanaway Lake’s Daffodil Princess.

NJROTC member helps save a life The citation begins “For outstanding meritorious achievement while participating in a Washington State Interscholastic Orienteering League (WIOL) Orienteering Meet with his NJROTC Team at the Lincoln Tree Farm in Spanaway, Washington on 16 February 2013.

Rylan Butler is a 9th grader enrolled here at Spanaway Lake High School and a member of the Navy Junior Reserve Recently while participating in the a Washington Interscholastic Orienteering League (WIOL) Orienteering Championship at the Lincoln Tree Farm here in Spanaway with his fellow teammates, Rylan had a chance to and compassionate by saving a life. Rylan while a contestant in the Championship Race heard a shout for help from a stranded fellow runner. Abandoning his race, he went to investigate the shout for help and came upon a young female teenage student who was having a severe asthma attack. He stayed with her, calming her to reduce the attack. When he felt things had settled down he proceeded to walk her out of the forest and back to the starting line, a distance of almost 1700 meters. When he got her back to

the starting line they were met by medical attendants, who immediately began helping her overcome the attack. Rylan resumed his race by proceeding back onto the course. However, fate interceded again when he came upon another injured runner who had seriously injured her ankle. Rylan decided the race was less important and that helping this injured runner was his top priority now.

He abandoned his race and helped her back to the start of the race to receive medical attention.

When you think of a hero’s qualities and those of a leader, what do you consider?

Being alert, modest, dependable, and compassionate quickly come to mind. If these qualities were on your checklist for that Cadet Rylan Butler is your man. If you haven’t seen him sporting his Cadet Meritorious Achievement ribbon, you might have at least caught ear of the commotion that happened at the last orienteering meet. Rylan admits that had he not been in Junior ROTC he probably wouldn’t have been in a situation like this.

He says that he joined JROTC because of his dad and his future plans of joining the Navy Seals when he’s older. He idolizes the Seals’ elite status, modesty and reputation for never leaving anyone behind. He plans on joining the Navy as education.

Asking him if there’s any lesson that

PHOTO COURTESY OF JIM SISCEL

BY DEAN SEVIGNY Guest Writer

he learned since being in JROTC he says don’t take anything for granted, because it may be gone sooner or later. He says that he likes the fact that ROTC gives opportunities that no other class can the lessons in class. Rylan mentions’ “having the chance to be a leader” is his favorite thing about JROTC. His future plans in JROTC include moving up in the ranks, becoming a better leader, and possibly becoming the Sentinel Battalion The citation ends with the following words: “Demonstrating exceptional leadership, physical and moral courage,

Butler went beyond what was expected in a championship event by helping these two injured runners. As a direct result of these two individuals were able to receive essential medical assistance. Cadet Butler’s extraordinary commitment, unit, his school, and the Naval Junior Rylan was presented this award, the highest award that you can receive in NJROTC at a recent awards ceremony by Spanaway Lake’s Principal Julie Baublits while his parents watched proudly.

Sentinels show their awesome talents

BY KENDRA GREEN kgreenonguard@gmail.com

Every year at Spanaway Lake, a talent show is put on and hosted by the Senior including solo singing, duet singing, duet dancing, violin playing, signing a song in ASL, and traditional island dancing.

If you missed it, you missed out on some amazing talents from fellow SLHS students. Anyone sitting in the audience would agree that performances were outstanding.

“I didn’t know that our school had students with such great abilities! It was cool to see some of my peers on stage performing their talents on stage. It makes me want to do it next year,” said sophomore Brandi Tucker.

“I prepared by looking up certain dancing videos on YouTube a week prior

practice so I could entertain the audience.

I always try to aim for uniqueness in my performance,” said sophomore Undre Reed.

Reed and his partner Dionte Edwards performed a dancing duo and placed third in the Spanaway Lake talent show. They also performed well in the District talent show later that week.

There was a bit of controversy on what the judges were looking for, and if the talent show was fair or not. The judging criteria was not made clear to all competitors and some felt that it might have been biased.

“I would do the talent show again, but only if I can get standards from the people who set it up and what I mean is that I have some kind of understanding of what they are looking for or what I need to do to win, it just has to be fair,” said sophomore Talil Reche’.

Reche’ liked how important he felt while performing. The crowd got involved and he “felt like somebody important.”

Five people placed in this years’ talent show and they continued on to the district competition. They are the following: Fifth place: Kaybriana Jackson and Jordan Smith Fourth: Maryn Powell Third: Dionte Edwards and Undre Reed

Second: Dianna Tugaga First: Roland “Andrew” Cruz.

Congratulations to all competitors that made this years’ talent show great and to those that made it to districts.

Feat

4 ON GUARD my.hsj.org/slhs

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BY BRADLEY DEAN bdean@gmail.com What is junioritis? Many of you are probably wondering if that is really a word in the dictionary. Perhaps we are becoming lazy as our senior year approaches, anticipating our summer, the thought of becoming a senior, or even the beginning of senioritis. Well according to the urban dictionary there are several

and drive to succeed, junioritis it is only a small phase for them that they cannot excape.

is a real word in the dictionary. What Have you experienced junioritis this school year? If not, how did you manage to get through the school year escaping the

condition that strikes high school juniors.

Symptoms include frequent headaches, frequent complaints of stress, random hyperventilation, violent mood swings, and a disinterest in schoolwork. Many

from? Some students feel that junioritis is really not a word that their junior year is the easiest because they have found their way and that most of the pressure they will encounter at school is during their senior year. junioritis.

In 99.8% of people with junioritis, As a junior myself, I condition especially senioritis will eventually be the result. do believe in junioritis because I have fell into that pertaining to juniors with rigorous academic schedules and factors that contribute to junioritis are AP rut multiple times this school year. I do strong ambitions for college that inhibits classes, college visits, or extracurricular them from willingly doing their work and activitie including involvement in sports through the year. poses them to ask the age-old question, and clubs.

In 99.8% of people with junioritis, are you going to saying to yourself “I think “What is the point of all of this?” Many juniors have pushed themselves to this senioritis will eventually be the result. point and beyond but with their will According to the dictionary there is no known cure for junioritis. Treatments include snow days or any prolonged vacation period.

So, now that you know that junioritis

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BY ANNA KESSNER akessneronguard@gmail.com To be honest, as a senior with only about a month of school left, I am pretty much checked out. Right after Spring Break, I came back to school with a “Why am I even here?” kind of attitude. I grew tired of the work, the people, the drama, and the school itself. I am leaving soon, so why should it matter?

Senioritis spreads like the plague around this time of year. You see seniors neglecting their work, missing school, and simply not caring anymore.

It is not uncommon, but that does not really make it okay. Teachers still have classes to teach, and students still have classes to pass. Just because we see the home stretch, does not mean we should just throw in the towel now. right now. Like most seniors, I look at my calendar and I have a countdown to the moment we walk up the stairs to the Tacoma Dome and receive our diploma. More importantly though, I have a countdown to our checkout day, also know as our last day of school. The moment we have all been waiting for is drawing closer and closer and you would think that would make seniors more motivated to end the year with a bang. False.

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MAY 2013

5

The price to be a senior

BY SAMUEL MARTINEZ smartinez@gmail.com Whether you believe in senioritis or not, it is hard to ignore just how stressful these normal routine of keeping your grades up and focusing on the current school year, seniors are pushed to look towards and plan for their future. One place this can be felt is their wallets.

Throughout my 12 years in the Bethel School District, I have never seen such a stretch of months that costs so much.

Before I go on any further I want to stress that this is not a rant about how hard it spending the same amount of money, or even buying the same things. But I do not think I will be the only one who can relate to how much money is being spent during the spring time.

the graduation requirements of a cap and in how much you want to spend but it is not like you are buying a T-shirt and hat.

Along with the graduation apparel, many students opted to buy the announcements that rack the bill even higher. book being slightly damaged. The price of and it is up to you to decide if they are

else all costs money. Now, of course not having money does not mean you cannot enjoy prom night. But, depending on what you want to do on June 1st, you may need to start saving for it.

Now I know college is not for everyone.

ballpark of costs.

The thing is, the last stretch of your high school career can be a pricey one, but it is

not the best choice for people at this time in their lives. But for those who are going down that path, let’s review some of the early expenses. First

ride to the campus will not be ruined with the regret of spending money last spring. When your favorite song comes on in the Tacoma Convention Center on prom night, you will not be regretting spending some cash on that matching vest.

Handing over a check or a stack of bills can suck, but while the last few months can be some of the most expensive, seniors should have the best time of their teenage years in the spring.

$$$$$

not, are part of another chunk of somebody’s income that need to be paid to the school. AP testing fees are upwards of ninety dollars if paid at the wrong time.

The testing fees are easier to accept though because passed AP test can mean college credit which in the long run actually saves you a lot of money.

Seniors enjoy a lot of nice things in our school. It can be as minor as being a few seconds late to class and have a teacher over look it, to something as big as being able to attend senior prom. Nice clothes, dinner, prom tickets, transportation, and anything

bucks. That is if you just want to take it once. Most colleges have a fee to even apply. The University of Washington has Washington State University will cost

June, money will not be on their minds.

almost all other schools. After a month or so you get that letter of acceptance. By the way that moment is worth the costs Once that is paid, you are in a whole new

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mess it all up by failing or struggling your last semester of high school. just a self-motivated person. I think end on a good note,” said senior Nneka Nnadi.

As important as it is to not neglect your classes, you should not neglect your friends in these last weeks either.

Do not miss school, because all you are doing is missing out on moments and memories you could be making with people you might never see again.

With graduation on the horizon, we should all just try our hardest to push You only get to experience high school once, might as well make the most of it.

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Puala Lansang is one of the seniors that is striding to remain free from the lazieness that comes to students awaiting graduation.

“My advice to future seniors is to not procrastinate. Just its all worth it,” said Lansang.

As Dianna Tugaga counts down the days untill Senior check-out, she try to stay motivated to do her best, with a little help.

“My mom and my dad motivate me to keep up with my work. If you slack maintain your status in life” said the strong willed senior.

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MAY 2013

Features

my.hsj.org/slhs ON GUARD

BY NICOLE CROSWHITE ncroswhiteonguard@gmail.com As the Spanaway Lake High School track team begins to wrap up their season of both personal and school records, her second season strong.

Lawrence is a very strong member of the track team and she competes in discus, shot put, and javelin. All three events have proven to be no match for her this season as she continues to make her team and school proud.

“I have been improving in shot but discus is very consistent. Jav, I’ve been increasing,” said Lawrence of her progress throughout this season.

This season, Lawrence has been coached at SLHS. “She is very talented and she continued to try to improve every single week,” said Remington of Lawrences’ admirable devotion to her sport.

With a whole year left of her high school career, Lawrence is determined to continue improving and master her events to do degree.

Aside from her natural talent in track, she also plays on the varsity basketball team and varsity volleyball team. She stays active all year long within her school and always proves to be a strong leader on her team regardless of the sport.

In the month of March, Lawrence’s incredible athletic abilities won her Athlete of the Month. This is her second time getting the award as she received it once during her sophomore year.

Her personality and talent both on the her the privilege of being named Athlete of the Month for the second time. She is a great role model for her peers and

is an incredible competitor.

“I think that being experienced in track is what got me Athlete of the Month,” said Lawrence.

Lawrence is always extremely positive and goes out of her way to encourage her peers and teammates every day.

“Tiki is so kind and she’s just nice to everyone,” said one of Lawrences’ teachers, Melissa Widmann. “As a superstar athlete, there is not one person she wont talk too. She will work with anyone or in any group happily.”

Lawrence is a great competitor and always strives to improve her performance in whatever she does. Her drive to succeed is what has THROWING LIKE A CHAMP: Junior, Quiana Lawrence has spent her entire track season breaking records and pushing herself to gotten her this far reach her full potential. “We hope that over the next week of preparation, she can get to throwing over 130 to put her in a good position to win divisional title and hopefully a state one too,” said coach, Angie Remington. and her teachers Lawrence is a great athlete but she is Lawrence is always making her team all recognize her full potential. also a very dedicated student. and school proud and although this years “I am excited to see what she does in “She is always on task in class so I would season is almost over, there is no doubt life,” said Widmann. “If she puts as much guess that she gives as much dedication that she will continue her hard work next to her sport as she does to her schooling,” season. into her education and sports, she will be says Widmann. one super awesome member of society.”

PHOTO BY BRADLEY DEAN

Quiana Lawrence on the road to state

A goalie that cannot be stopped Music Company, choir, and CrossCountry are just a few of the activities that Spanaway Lake High School senior, Arick Erechar is involved in. Aside from all of those extra curricular activities, Erechar spends most of his time on the soccer Since age four, he has been playing soccer both in and out of school. Erechar soccer team at SLHS. One of Erechar’s coaches this season was Assistant Coach of the varsity soccer team, Gary Milbradt.

“He is an unsung leader,” said Milbradt. “By just his performance during games, his 110% attitude, he is always all or nothing.”

Erechar is a goalkeeper for the Sentinels soccer team and he does his best to help his teammates wherever he can. He is an and has left a great impact on the soccer program here at SLHS. “Char was extremely clutch when we needed him most,” said teammate Logan Stegner. “He stopped shots that should have gone in. He just never quits.”

In March, Erechar won Athlete of the Month for his incredible performance on “When I found out that I got Athlete of the Month, I was surprised and extremely

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excited,” exclaimed Erechar.

Throughout games and practices, Erechar gives constructive criticism to his teammates to help improve the teams’ performance as a whole. He has devoted his entire high school career to helping the soccer team reach their fullest potential.

As one of the few fourth year varsity players to go to for advice. He has committed the last four years to working his spot on the team.

“I have become very coopertive and patient with my teammates over the corse of this season,” said Erechar.

This year’s team has developed tremendously and he contributes their vast improvements to the determination of his teammates.

“Erechar was a vital part of what we did and accomplished this season,” said Milbradt. “The percentage scored against him dropped from 60 to 29 between last year and this year.”

Erechar had a blast playing on the team his senior year because the team was full of such great athletes. Each and every player made sure they fought until the end and had soem record breaking games for the SLHS soccer program.

“It was a great season to play with the team,” said Erechar. “Everyone had a positive attidtude and worked their hardest all season long.”

(425)-267-0200

PHOTO BY BRADLEY DEAN

BY NICOLE CROSWHITE ncroswhiteonguard@gmail.com

DONT STOP UNTIL THE JOB IS DONE: Senior goalkeeper, Arick Erechar played his best throughout the entire season and stopped hundreds of balls shot against Spanaway Lake. He is an extremely valuable member to the team and his peers and coaches commend his performance this season. “In my opinion, he was the best goalie in our league,” said senior, Logan Stegner.

South Center Mall 985 Southcenter Mall Tukwila, WA 98188-2819 (206)-244-5857

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A&E

MAY 2013

7

Pierce County’s best burgers

BY CHARLY WHITMAN cwhitmanonguard@gmail.com Everyone seems to always be looking for the best food that can be bought for the best price. From small food establishments that are not insanely well known I have been on the search for the best cheeseburger in the Puget Sound Area based on restaurants that Spanaway Lake students have given me to go.

Based on a scale of 1-10, I rated each burger I received on their greasiness, how fresh the vegetables were, the quality of the meat, presentation, the the quality of the bun, and overall taste.

Based on all these factors, I have picked the best burger in the Puget Sound Area.

Five Guy’s Burgers and Fries has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere when you walk through the door. They have free peanuts for you to snack on while you wait for your food, which is very convenient. You can choose between one or two patties, and pick any type of topping you

would like from their list of toppings. The buns are toasted, and the vegetables on the burger were very fresh and washed.

There are no combo prices, but you can get a large or small container of fries and a drink for a few dollars more. The fries are made in peanut oil though, so anyone with a serious nut allergy should stay away.

Five guys got an amazing rating from others and myself around the restaurant. the Lakewood/University Place area has a good burger with an overall rating of 7, but he area it is located is not the easiest or safest place to be if you go after dark. The bun was soggy when I opened the wrapper of my burger things like condiments and vegetables fell out of the bun because the burger was put together too quickly. There was no one in line behind me, so there was no need to put it together sloppily. The meat on the burger was also burnt, but the vegetable quality was excellent as well as there b e i n g

Since I had no gas, my mother picked up my burger from Frisko Freeze in I was hungry enough to want to eat it quickly. My appetite soon depleted greasy I could not handle it, the meat was so thing you could not tell there was a burger there, and the vegetables tasted old and were not well washed. So many condiments were used that they overpowered the entire burger, and everything seemed to be on one side of the burger instead of being evenly distributed.

I was not impressed with Frisko Freeze.

In Puyallup and South Hill, Out & About Burger is a favorite to many. Based in a trailer on Meridian Avenue, they have some of the best burgers you can get for cheap. All burgers are made to order with grilled onions if desired and a special homemade house sauce. The burger I received was very good when

and beyond in their preparation and their customer service in providing me food was delicious, the atmosphere was great, and they honestly blew every other burger I had out of the water because I still wanted one of their burgers with every other one I ate. I would recommend that anyone looking for a great burger should head over to Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

although the onions overpowered a

is a home favorite for many of the people who live in the area. They have many sandwiches ranging from burgers to chicken sandwiches. They also have an you order from Frugal’s you get a hand pressed patty that is not frozen that is topped with vegetables, mayo, mustard, and ketchup. All of the toppings were good. Frugal’s gets a lot of business, but they still took the time to make a good burger for everyone that comes through.

The winner is Five Guy’s Burgers and Fries! This establishment went above

Drama club stays busy

BY JOSH HAIGH jhaighonguard@gmail.com This school year, our drama club put out two main productions. Cirque du S’Lake and Arsenic and Old Lace. On February 8, our Drama Club impressed spectators with their circus-themed improvisational, while the dark comedy comes out on May 15 with a “pay what you can night,” where donations go straight to the theatre department. On May 16 and 17 the regular admission is $8 with out and $5 with ASB with shows starting at 7:00 pm. There will also be an early show on May 18 that starts at 3:oo pm.

Directed by Cedarcrest choir teacher and Drama Club advisor Anne Chappell (taking the place of previous Drama advisor Mr. Barnett), Cirque du S’Lake even showcased an acrobatics troupe comprised entirely of Cedarcrest students called ‘Zero Gravity’.

Cirque du S’Lake capitalizes on improvisational dialogue to exercise versatility and chemistry from the actors.

It consisted of a series of ‘acts’ in which the actors had to be able to instantly respond to whatever situation that is presented to them.

the commons/lunchroom in which the audience had opportunity to take pictures with the actors and purchase condiments, After that portion was over, everyone was moved to the auditorium where the actual play started. Almost immediately after everyone was comfortably seated, showcasing their acrobatics expertise.

Then began the actual acts, a highlight of which was the magic performance executed by seniors Jacob Granlund and Cassidy Steele.

In Arsenic and Old Lace, the whole dynamic of the play was nearly opposite of the prior Cirque du S’Lake. In this play, it deals with two old ladies who have a high standing reputation to kill old and homeless people as a favor to them. For those who do not know what Arsenic is, it is a chemical generally found in ground water that would be put in elderberry wine, and so was the preferred method the two women would take care of their victims.

Drama Club started practicing improvisational acting for Cirque du S’Lake in November, followed by actual auditions for the play the next month.

Anybody in Drama Club that failed to make it as a character in the play still found a way to participate through being a member of the Tech Crew (in charge of lights, make up, and all background From that point forward, time was spent for the actors to learn their individual characters distinct personalities and how they would be able to interact with one another. own personality, it gets pretty hard to stay in character,” said senior D’Andre The general consensus from the Drama Club is that the plays were a success, raising hundreds of dollars for the drama department and it was a great experienced for all those involved. on the improv of the Cirque du S’Lake,” exclaims freshman Alexis Holloman.

A and Cast B, so they will alternate the here at Spanaway Lake, she was really well-received by both the new actors and the more seasoned returners an Drama Club, being considered an experienced thespian by those that had Barnett last year. expressed my concerns with choosing a production without knowing my students

THE STAGE IS SET: The aditorium has undergone an extreme makeover to allow a scenic backround for the Drama Club’s new production “Arsenic & Old Lace”

did not draw the right talent? The district arts coordinator that hired me had the idea of an improve show in order to save money and get to know my new crop of actors, and my creative gears started revving. It went from a simple improv show to a circus spectacular! Not only did I get to know my new thesbians, but they produced an organic show from their recipe,” said Ms. Chappell proudly.

R E V I E W

A L B U M

Sempiternal

by Bring Me The Horizon For those who knew Bring Me you know how excited you were for their new album, Sempiternal, to be released. It has been nearly two years since their last album There’s A Hell, Believe Me I’ve Seen It. There’s A Heaven, Let’s Keep It A Secret, and the fans have been waiting for too long.

In this new album, the band introduces their new member Jordan Fish on the keyboard. Their newest album titled Sempiternal was released in the UK on on April 2nd in the United States.

As a personal fan of the band myself, I was overly excited when album called “Shadow Moses” on song automatically. Even though their sound may have changed, it was Sykes not using as much of his “old” sound, and going with a softer voice.

Also in this album, the band tones down the normally fast beat they are know for in their songs. They keep to tradition in a couple of their songs of and Antivist, so you still get some of the traditional sound. Their slower songs may be a little bit of a change, but the band has yet to disappoint their fans.

by Ashley Leise

Sports Baseball breaks the streak Girls tennis welcomes new things 8

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APRIL 2013

BY SEAN CONNORS sconnersonguard@gmail.com

the lead. Senior Josh Tapasa and junior During the second inning another run was scored by the Eagles but the Sentinel bats were still hot and they scored another run making the score

It took three and half seasons, 54 games gets a win against the Federal Way Eagles

to a bad start with the pitcher loading the bases and getting himself in jam.

There were no outs and bases were loaded. The next batter up hits a ball that sky rockets out to Deaven Thielen who catches the ball. The player on 3rd base makes a run for home and Deaven lazers the ball home to Josh Tapasa to make the out.

Now runners are only on second and third. The next Eagle player hits a nice shot with a clearing of the bases double.

Next we had a play that may have been the game changer. The pitcher pitched the ball and it was hit hard to the right

Going into this game the team seemed more into it and also looked like everything was clicking for the team. During the was hitting the balls to all the players and there were no errors during this warmup period. You could literally hear the zip off the ball and the pop in the glove.

The start of the game was good for the

year long and had only scored 6 runs in

spectacular diving catch, and the runner the ball to second for a double play with the score now being 4 – 3 Eagles.

In the fourth inning the Sentinels are

BY MELANIE NING-NGIM mning-ngimonguard@gmail.com compared to last year, and they a larger team than other years. All together the team has twenty-seven girls with eight playing varsity, along with many returners and new players alike. Everyone is devoted to working hard and improving both individually and as a team. The team also gets along well and is really close.

Jeff McPherson is the new assistant tennis coach and he has played tennis Spanaway Middle School when it was change for him. “Fast pitch and tennis are completely different sports,” said McPherson. “The transition way easy cause I used to play tennis. I watch it all the time, and I used to play, so it is way easier.” McPherson wanted to coach because his dreams have always been to get back in tennis and it was a way to

favorite part of the team is practice because he gets to see the players develop throughout the season. McPherson felt nervous entering the program, but head coach, Brendan Nadayag has made him feel very at home. “I am ecstatic that I am a part of the sentinels girls compare to last years, and they have a lot of young players. Everyone is devoted to working hard and improving both individually and as a team. “I am extremely proud of how far we have come so far this season,” said senior great coaches, and I look forward to seeing my team every single day, we are improving so much and I do not want the season to end. We are all supportive of each other through everything.”

The season has been a great experience for all the girls with the new transitions they have made having a larger team with younger people and a new assistant coach.

PITCHING A WINNER: Senior Collin Stegner pitches the ball during a game against Rogers.

“To win you have to have a good mentality and teammates who will pick you up when you are down,” said Stegner. This is Stegner’s third year playing varsity baseball for Spanaway Lake.

is now 6 – 5 Eagles but the Sentinels are inching their way back into the game.

Senior Ryan Towe comes in to pitch the rest of the game and during the sixth inning it is three up and three down. The

PHOTO BY CHARLY WHITMAN

PHOTO BY ANNA KESSNER

get runners on second and third base and there are two outs. The pitcher comes

bats going. They get 4 runs in the sixth inning. Sentinels now take the lead with the score being 9 – 6. Towe came out and struggled a little giving one run up but getting the job done and the win for the triumph for both the team and the coaches.

OVER THE NET: Senior Sarah Kim hits the ball during a match against Bethel. “This season was great,” said Kim. “The team has really improved signifcantly from the beginning of the season.” This is Kim’s third year playing tennis for Spanaway Lake and second year playing varsity.

Track runs with passion

Boys soccer closes the season strong

doing track.” Even though track can be exhausting, it can be a pathway to greater success in life.

BY ZTEAVA APACHE zapacheonguard@gmail.com

improvement from other seasons

“Winning is not everything,” said senior Logan Stegner. “But wanting to win is.”

Soccer is a very competitive sport that takes a lot of time, effort, and most importantly; team work to play a good game. This season, for the varsity boys team, they have improved drastically since last season.

Last year there the team had three wins, twelve loses and one tie, this curent season they have won four games lost sven and tied once. Two wins have come vs. Bethel also beat Beamer and

“This season as a whole went really well,” said senior captain Erick Tello.

“The most memorable game was when

“It is faster than playing select soccer cause the other players are older,” work harder to keep up with them.”

Rivers is one of two freshman on the team this year, he also says “Most of the other players are seniors and juniors so I have to work harder.”

This year the team has made a great

PHOTO BY BRADLEY DEAN

Track is a very competitive sport. You have to be very dedicated and you have endurance, Endurance is the key in track because you need to be able to push past your limits so you can improve your skills as an individual. When many people think about track, they think of exhaustion or speed and they do not sound too excited but the students in track enjoy doing what they do best, “ I really like track because it gives me an opportunity to see how I am against other people individually,” said junior Josh Bonds. The reason why most people in track enjoy the sport is because of the competition, they love to be competitive and love a great challenge.

Also teamwork is a very great motivation and helps you push yourself above and

beyond. “ I joined track because I wanted to stay in shape, and I like the teamwork along with the great competitions,” said sophomore Will Anderson.

Some people have to work to gain the ability to do something while others have it come natural and it just runs in the family bloodline. “ I joined track because I wanted to follow my brothers footsteps and get into track and possibly go to state just like him and get a scholarship to the University of Washington Seattle,” said sophomore Derrick Anderson. “It is crazy though because I am pretty good at track, well thats what I hear from the

MAKING HURDLES LOOK EASY: Junior Ugo Nnadi jumps the hurdles in a race against Bonney Lake.”This season went great,” said Nnadi. “The team made a lot of personal records and I am looking forward to a great season next year. This is Nnadi’s second year participating in track at Spanaway Lake.

by

This boys varsity team had six seniors who had to say goodbye to the milestones for the team with more underclassmen trying out and making the varsity team as well as being on their own club teams in the off-season.

“The difference between club soccer and high school soccer is that club soccer focuses on enhancing your skills as an individual,” said senior focuses on more of a team aspect.”

Overall this past season has been a great one for the boys soccer team with new players, younger players, and a new team mentality.

PHOTO BYCHARLY WHITMAN

BY LEITARA MAILOTO lmailotoonguard@gmail.com

CHASING THE BALL: Freshman Yacob Logerfo picks up the ball in a game against Federal Way. “This season was much shorter than ones I normally play,” said Logerfo. “On the last team I was on, the season lasted the whole year.” Logerfo is one of two freshmen playing on the varsity soccer team this year, and has kept up the pace with all the upperclassmen. “I felt very welcomed,” said Lofergo.